A Strong Hold in the Day of Trouble

The book of Nahum is a short prophecy against Ninevah where the prophet told of the Assyrians’ future destruction because of its wickedness. Though it may not seem very applicable to us today given that Assyria was destroyed as prophesied over three thousand years ago, its destruction was symbolic of the world at the second coming. The second chapter heading puts it this way: “Nineveh will be destroyed, which is a symbol of what will be in the latter days.” One of the important messages from the book is that the Lord will not suffer wickedness to endure forever; though He does not always prevent the wicked from using their agency and doing terrible things, eventually His judgment and wrath will come upon them if they do not repent. This is not because the Lord delights in punishment but because He cannot deny justice or “acquit the wicked” (Nahum 1:3). As we see the terrible wickedness of our world today, this book can stand as a reminder that justice will be served one day for those who abuse and mistreat their fellow men. All will one day stand accountable before God and receive the wages of their works on the earth.

                Another message of the book of Nahum is that the Lord has all power and that the righteous can trust in Him. We read, “The Lord hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth. The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.” When evil seems to triumph, we need not fear that the Lord does not have the power to stop it; He that rebuketh the sea and controls the whirlwind and has the clouds as the dust of His feet has power over all the earth. Nahum questioned, “Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him.” In the end none will be able to stand against Him when He decides to mete out judgment upon the wicked as He ultimately did against the brutal Assyrians. Knowing His power and justice, the righteous can put their trust in Him as Nahum testified: “The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.” The Lord will be our strong hold against wickedness and the evil around us, and He recognizes and helps those who put their trust in Him. When the modern-day Assyrians are against us, whatever form that may take, the Lord promises: “For now will I break his yoke from off thee, and will burst thy bonds in sunder…. Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace! O Judah, keep thy solemn feasts, perform thy vows: for the wicked shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off” (Nahum 1:3-7, 13, 15). He will eventually break the yoke of the oppressor for those who put their trust in Him. He will bring good tidings to the faithful and in the end the wicked will be cut off for good as He comes to reign in the Millennium with His people. Nahum’s message to the faithful is a reminder to keeping holding on, to stay true even amidst a world increasingly like Ninevah of old. We can trust in the Lord’s goodness towards His people and His justice one day towards the wicked.